O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

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O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

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O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker

In the tradition of Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, a darkly humorous modern classic of Scottish literature about a doomed adolescent growing up in the mid-19th century--featuring a new introduction by Maggie O'Farrell, award-winning author of Hamnet.

Janet lies murdered beneath the castle stairs, attired in her mother's black lace wedding dress, lamented only by her pet jackdaw...

Author Elspeth Barker masterfully evokes the harsh climate of Scotland in this atmospheric gothic tale that has been compared to the works of the Bront s, Edgar Allan Poe, and Edward Gorey. Immersed in a world of isolation and loneliness, Barker's ill-fated young heroine Janet turns to literature, nature, and her Aunt Lila, who offers brief flashes of respite in an otherwise foreboding life. People, birds, and beasts move through the background in a tale that is as rich and atmospheric as it is witty and mordant. The family's motto--Moriens sed Invictus (Dying but Unconquered)--is a well-suited epitaph for wild and courageous Janet, whose fierce determination to remain steadfastly herself makes her one of the most unforgettable protagonists in contemporary literature.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781668004616
ISBN 10 1668004615
Title O Caledonia
Author Elspeth Barker
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Simon & Schuster
Year published 2022-09-20
Number of pages 208
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.